San Francisco 2009

We had a great opportunity for a fun weekend....Cody's uncle Scott sent us an invitation for a Family Reunion in San Francisco. They own an apartment on a ship called The World and it was docking in San Francisco in June and he wanted us all to come for lunch on the ship and spend the afternoon together. We decided we were going to do whatever we could to make it and I'm so glad we did! We had such a fantastic time! San Francisco has never been on my short list of "Places to Go" but it was so much more fun than I ever thought it would be. Cody's mom was so sweet to watch our kids for us so it gave me and Cody some time away, just the two of us! It had been a while and we needed it! Not to say that we don't like spending time with our kids....but it's nice to get some time together too. We went with Cody's sister Polly and his brother Bryce & Lisa and their twins. We all stayed in the same hotel and had a great time together. We stayed down by Fisherman's Wharf so we walked everywhere and took in as much as we could. We could've used an extra day, so much to do and we ran out of time, but that will just give us an incentive to go back soon.

Polly, Cody & I took the Alcatraz night tour. It was so much fun.....I watched Escape from Alcatraz with Clint Eastwood every year when I was little so I was really looking forward to it. It was so fun to take the boat over in the evening and hang out over there as the sun went down. We didn't get very many great pictures of the city, but it was amazing and what a view! Loved the tour....it was really an amazing place and it was fun to learn the history and we got to see some of the areas that the people in the daytime hadn't been able to see. Great experience and now I can say I've been to Alcatraz.

We spent Saturday afternoon on "The World" with our family. It was so fun to see everyone and what an amazing ship! We took a tour and then had a wonderful steak and lobster lunch that still makes my mouth water. The whole reunion was to get the family together and Cody's grandma and grandpa were the guests of honor. They were really looking forward to going but the week before the reunion, Cody's grandpa started having some medical problems and ended up in the hospital. They weren't able to make it and that was disappointing for everyone. Cody's aunt and his dad also decided to stay home to care for his grandpa so we missed them as well. It was a fun afternoon and so very generous of Scott to share this incredible experience with his family. We loved it and hope to see everyone again very soon!

My cousin Erika & her husband Jensen live in San Francisco so we were able to spend some time with them while we were there. It was so much fun! I wasn't prepared for the cold nights and Erika shared her warm gear with all of us Southern Californian's. It came in handy on our Alcatraz excursion because the trip over was a little chilly. They picked up me and Cody one of the nights there and took us around the city. We went to dinner and then went to this fun ice cream shop that people stand in line for every night. We then went down the "Crookedest" (is that a word?) Street because you have to do that if you go to San Francisco. Glad we got to do that and our picture is horrible, but it was fun. We also went across the Golden Gate Bridge and they took us up to a look-out place so we could see it from above and it was really amazing. Our pictures didn't turn out very good there either....I guess I need some lessons, but that was really cool. They also had us over for dinner the day we left. They have an amazing apartment on the top floor and the view was incredible. They took such good care of us and we loved every minute of it. Thanks guys!

Father's Day 2009 (Long Post)

I can't let this one slide by.....I'll kind of include this as our Anniversary post too because I, of course, missed it. It was our 14th anniversary in March and we've been together for 16 years. I didn't actually miss our anniversary, just the post. :) He's a wonderful husband and he's the best father to our kids. I've loved him since he kissed me on our 2nd date (don't judge me...have you seen him?) :) I had dated a lot up at school and had just decided that I was going to take the summer off. I was tired of trying to figure out "where things were headed" because that's what the guys kept asking me. I was going to relax and hang out with my friends and regroup. That summer I went home to start my fun, free, no commitment summer and we found out my mom had cancer. I was devastated and we were getting ready for her to come home from the hospital after major surgery when Cody called. It was completely out of the blue and he told me that he had heard about my mom and was sorry and wanted to let me know that he would be around and would like to take me out when I was feeling better.

We were friends all through high school but had never dated. He was one of the nicest guys I knew and I always thought he was pretty hot but we never really had the opportunity to date back then because of other relationships. I was really impressed by that phone call and his grandpa had died of colon cancer so he knew a thing or two about what we would be going through. My aunt Judy happened to be at our house that night and said I should get out....I had been back and forth to the hospital and she said I should take her convertible Mustang and go for a ride.....OKAY! My friend and I hopped in her car and went to drag main for a while. Anyone from a small town will understand....you start at McDonald's and cruise down through town and turn around at 7-11 and go back up. Everyone used to hang out on main street so when we saw anyone that looked interesting, we stopped and visited. My mom hated the whole concept, but it was a lot of fun. :) That night we pulled over to talk to Cody and his group of friends and we took him for a ride and that was pretty much it. I know....hanging on main street, picking him up, you're wondering what kind of a girl I was, but it was the best thing I ever did. We saw each other a couple of nights later and he asked me out for the 4th of July and that pretty much sealed the deal. We saw each other every night after that and the rest is history. The best thing about it is we started as friends and every day we spent together, it grew into something really amazing.....it still is amazing!

He was so sweet to my family and took very good care of my mom. She absolutely loved him....I hadn't chosen very few "acceptable" boyfriends in the past, so she was ecstatic. We dated for quite a while and I have to say, it was probably very challenging for him. I wanted to spend as much as I could at home with my mom and he was completely okay with that. He knew that it was important to me and I was so grateful to have him there. I remember one night that I was cleaning up dinner and hadn't seen him for a while and I walked upstairs to my mom's room and he was laying on the bed with her just talking. I can't tell you how much it meant to have him in my life....he is the same way with me and has taken good care of me. We've been through a lot together and I know that his call was something I'll always be grateful for because I don't think I could've made it without him. Okay, got a little deep, but I hope my kids will always know how much I love their dad. He is so much fun....we've needed a lot of laughter in our home and he's always there to provide it. My brothers and sisters love having him around because he always comes up with something funny to do or say. I love that about him.....okay, okay, I just love him!

Watching him with our kids is so much fun! They absolutely adore him and they all run to the door when he walks through it. They all come to his side of the bed if there's a problem in the middle of the night because they know he won't kick them out and he'll snuggle them up next to him and put them back to sleep. He has always been a huge help to me....if there's something that needs to be done; he does it. He is there for everything that they do. He also loves his family and extended family and would do anything for them. I have always appreciated the close family that he came from because we've had so much fun with both of our families and we know that family is the most important thing. I could go on and on, but just know that your family loves you, Cody! We think the world of you and hope you know how much you mean to all of us. Thanks for always being there and for taking such good care of all of us. We love you!

Fathers Day 2009
This was so cute...they were laying on the trampoline and she must have been very tired. She has always loved to snuggle with her dad.

Carson is his dad's boy! He has looked like him from the day he was born and he loves spending any time with him he can get. Cody takes him to work with him every once in a while and it's a highlight for Carson. Anytime with dad is good time!

I love this picture!! He looks like SuperDad! We were at the softball park on closing day and I went over to get the girls where they needed to be and he cleaned up everything and headed over.....with chairs slung over his back, the diaper bag, the stroller, Avery and of course the cotton candy....and he looks great doing it! :)

Memorial Day - Still Catchin' Up

We had such a fun Memorial Day with our family! Cody's mom and Jack have the best barbeques and are always trying something new and different. This time, they smoked a ham and we barbecued hamburgers and hot dogs. No one left hungry....that's for sure! Brittany loved helping Grandma in the kitchen and then everyone got in the pool and it was such a fun day! We love these beautiful, spring days and I love that we have the chance to remember those who are protecting our country and those who have died doing so.

I remember growing up...we always got up really early and drove up to the cemetary for a special ceremony that they had for the veterans and to honor those who had died for our country. My brother, Jeff, plays the trumpet and he was asked several times to play Taps! There's nothing like standing there with the soldiers and looking at all of the flags that were flying for those who had passed on and listening to my brother play that song to honor them. I remember getting mums and walking all over the cemetary to our family members graves and delivering flowers and how pretty the cemetary looked. It seemed like we were there for hours while my mom and dad visited with everyone. Definitely small town feel and I really do love those memories and hope I can instill this same sense of patriotism in mychildren, although we're not off to a very good start. We just need to start getting out and finding opportunities here too. It was a really great day and what a fun day with our family!